Author(s)

Document Type

Article

Subject Area(s)

Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Thereduction of dioxygen in aprotic media yields superoxide ions whichreact with polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons by nucleophilic substitution. The degradation ofhexachlorobenzene to bicarbonates and chlorides using in situ generated superoxide ionswas carried out at room temperature in a flow cellsystem equipped with a gas fed, porous electrode. The effects ofcurrent, electrolyte flow, and aprotic media on the extent ofdegradation of hexachlorobenzene are presented.